Follow-up: Language and Survival
Since I brought up the importance of language diversity before I thought I would follow up with this interesting wrinkle over at Crooked Timber. There is a popular movement in Ireland with wide appeal to make Irish an official language of the EU. Maria Farrell wonders what the point is.
“It?s not every day that Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats and Sinn Fein agree on something. But they all say Irish should be an official language of the EU, and complain that the government (which the PDs are part of) hasn?t done enough to make this happen during the Irish presidency. Our presidency of the EU is at best a partial success because we haven?t managed to force the EU to spend an extra 50 million euro a year to translate speeches and documents into a language that no one actually needs them in. It?s the principle, you see.”
She goes on to argue against the popular reasoning to do it and prompts an interesting debate as to whether this is a good thing or not (and a general bemoaning of the current price of a pint). Here was one rather impassioned “pro” statement in the comments section.
“Most of the people I know who support the campaign want the status primarily for the same reason they want national government departments to deal with them in Irish. They feel that the present ?coolness? could be a flash in the pan and unless you can actually use the language in your dealings with officialdom it will only be a hobby language doomed to extinction. The point of the Maltese example to me and my friends is that it can be done, not that we want the same pork the Maltese get. I particularly despise the suggested ?compromise? that Irish be recognised for employment purposes even if it doesn?t get official status. That?s not what it?s about.” – Eimear N? Mh?al?id
In either case it’s an important discussion to have and I’m glad Crooked Timber is having it.
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